Expansion joint and filler bridge



June E@ M36- R. R. ROBERTSON EXPANSION JOINT AND FILLER BRIDGE FiledJuly '7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ihm@ 3@ i193@ E. RQBEPHSQN EXPANSIONJOINT AND FILLER BRIDGE Filed July7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June30, 1936 iiiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert R. Robertson, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to The Translode Joint Company, Chicago, Ill., a

corporation of Illinois Application July 7, 1934, Serial No. 734,096

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved road expansion jointincluding end closure means for the joint void, and a ller supportingbridge comprising bridge members which are releasably supported on thecore forming plates and are left in position with the removal of thecore plates l allowing notched portions of the bridge members f to bedeflected inwardly to be interlocked with f one another to form anarched support for the c rcception of a filling of plastic material toclose the upper po-rtion of the joint void which is left in the concreteabove the load transmission base Y unit'in which the core plates areoriginally supported.

tf-.2 It is an object of this invention to provide a l road expansionjoint forming unit including iridgemembers which are removably supported.on the core plates and are left in position with the removal-of .thecore plates after the pouring (y, .of concrete 13o-permit portions ofthe bridge members to be lbent inwardly to bridge the void and to'ioeitingly interfit one 2 another to form a suitable 'uppcrt for afilling of a plastic material to parially fili the upper portion of thevoid between if; adjacent concrete sections of a road.

it is also an object of this invention to provide a road expansion jointwith bridge members adapted to be partially embedded in the concrete andhaving portions thereof projecting into the mi. expansion joint void tobe interlocked with one another to bridge the joint void and afford anarched support for a filling of plastic material to `.ornplete the upperportion of the expansion joint between concrete road sections.

it is a further object of this invention to provide an expansion jointvoid spanning unit including angle members having notched flangesadapted to bev moved into inteifitting relation with one another withportions of the notched flanges m bent over to interlock the bridgemembers with one another to form a support for a plastic filling forclosing the upper portion of the road expansion joint.

It is an important object of this invention to ..5 provide a roadexpansion joint forming mechanisrn including a load transmission basefor removably supporting a void forming core unit in place betweenconcrete road sections, said core unit having removably supportedthereon filler so supporting bridge members which are adapted spect toone another to form a support for a filling of plastic material to closethe upper portion of the expansion joint.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of animproved type of road joint filler supporting bridge unit includingangle members comprising base anges having pockets formed therein andadapted to be embedded in concrete and bridge flanges adapted to projectinto an expansion joint void, with each of said bridge anges having theupper margin notched to form spaced flaps or tongues which are adaptedto permit adjacent bridge iianges to intert with one another allowingthe aps to be deiiected to form an interlocked ller ridge to permit afilling of plastic material to be deposited in the upper portion of aroad joint to close the same.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical detail section of a concrete road structure justafter the pouring of concrete and illustrating a load transmission baseunit having a removable core supported therein on which improvedbridging members are releasably supported, during the pouring of con;crete, by a removable core cap.

Figure 2 is a similar section of the completed expansion joint with thecore unit and vcore closure cap removed and with the bridge membersprojecting across the expansion joint void and interlocked with oneanother to form a support for a filler of plastic material for closingthe upper portion of the expansion joint.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of one of the bridgemembers before being bent into shape.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the bridge unit showing the interlockingrelation of the notched flanges of the bridge members.

Figure 5 is a detail section of the ller bridge unit showing the notchedflanges intertting one another prior to the deiiecting of the flaps.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of theinterlocked bridge portion of the bridge unit illustrated in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a load transmission expansionjoint, before the pouring of concrete, illustrating the temporaryposition of the bridgey members and also showing the adjustable endclosure unit for closing the outer end oi the expansion joint core unit.

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the closed end of the expansion Yjointmechanism illustrated in Figure 7. Y

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the joint mechanismillustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a, modified form of anexpansion joint filler supporting bridgeunit.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures l and 2, the concrete road sections lare illustrateddisposedY on opposite sides of f an expansion joint constructed by theVuse of improved expansion joint forming mechanisms embodying theprinciples of this invention.

The present invention covers an improved 'type Y of air expansion jointfor roads and'similar concrete vconstructions and includes incombination an improvedload transmission base. unit in which a removableVcorel unit is supported for Vtemporarily supportingin position, duringthe pouring of concrete, improved bridge members adapted to be movedinto interlockingY engagement with'one another to span the Voidresulting from the remo-val of the core unit from between theconcreteroad sections, to permit a lling of a bituminous or plasticmaterial to be deposited on the bridge unit to close the upper portionof the expansion joint.

. The base unit of the road joint former serves as a Vload transmissionmechanism be-tween the i adjacent Vsections of the concrete roadconstruction and in the present joint comprises-.an Velongated basemember consisting cfa solid base plate 2 constructedcf sheet metalor'other suitable material. Y

The longitudinal Vmargins of the base plate 2 Vare bent upwardly andthen inwardly toward one another toV form oppositely positioned guidechannels 3 which provide oppcsitely positionedV guide spaces or groovesil'. The longitudinal margins of the top plates of the `base guidechannels are cut away at Yspaced intervals, with the Ynotches in onemargin being staggered with respect to the notches in the oppositemargin to provide staggered flaps or extensions which are bent up.-wardly at substantially right angles to form staggered retaining tonguesor lugs 5, the upper marginsfofwhichrare curled inwardly to form curvedVlips. 5.1 The outwardly projecting retaining tongues 5 on each side ofthe middle portion of the base unit areV separated by notches orrecesses for the reception yof anchor units which Y'will hereinafter bemore fully described. The

grooved or channel base' member forming part of the base unitis usuallyprovided in a stand-V ard length of substantially-half the width of theroad and extends from the outer side of the road inwardly Vto the roadYcenter strip. The base unit, however, may be provided in shorter lengthsif sodesired. Y

The base member has associated therewith a Vplurality of loadtransmitting mechanisms con- Y Vsisting of a plurality of anchor shoesor holders I which Yare movably or shiftably engaged in the base sectionand are arranged longitudinally in offset or staggeredV relation withrespect toene anotherf The anchor Yshoes or holders are of substantiallyidentical construction and are ar-V range-d with the adjacent shoesVreversed'with respect to oneanother as clearly illustrated in Figure 7.Each of the anchor shoes isconstructed ofinetalaand comprises an anglebar'including tion with adjacent shoes reversed with respect to Y oneanother, so that the anchoring blades or Wings 9 project outwardlyleaving the flat sides of Athe .upright webs .or flanges of theanchoring shoes Vfacing inwardly. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1,the. anchoring shoes are staggered with 'Y Y respect to one another sothat the upright flanges Bimay be seated in the notches provided in the'top flanges of the base section between the retaining tongues or flaps5j and slightly to the Y Voutside of said tongues 5to afford retainingspaces between the inner surfacesof the upright flanges 8 and the outerfaces of the retaining,

tongues 5 of `the base section.

The outermost anchoring shoe, in each of the with a `closure means forclosing theouter end ofthe vo-id forming core unit, and the outer endofthe void resulting from the removal of the core a unit after thepouring of concrete which forms the upper or crown section ofthe road;The cloj basesections of the device, has connected there- YSuremeanSfOrthe core unit comprises avprimary closure plate vIil(Figures '7 to 9 inclusive) which Vis.Weldedorotherwise rigidly securedto the end Vof the anchor shoe and is cut inwardly atV I and I2 to forman upper flapI3Y and a lower flap I4 as clearly illustrated in Figure 8.The portion of-.the plate between the cuts Il and VI2 is bentatisubstantially right angles to form a wing plate;4

I5 :having Yan anchoring blade I,6 integrally 'formed thereon andprojecting outwardly to serve asameans for anchoring the wing plate i5in the Yconcrete of a road section. The 'opposite vertical margin of themain closure plate I D has slid- Yable interfltting or telescopingengagement with va'hollowor U-shaped plate receiving pocket Vor socketI'I. The y wall` of `the guideA pocket I1 f nearestthe concrete` sectionof the road is pro- `Vvided with an extension plate I8 (Figure 7) which.lies flat againstitheinner side of the mainplate Ill andhas integrallyYformed thereon afwing plateA I9 Vpositioned substantially parallel tothe wing plate I5.

Integrally fo-rmed on the wingV Lplate ISisan outwardly directedanchoring blade f or-wing 20which is adapted to be embedded in theconcrete forming an adjacent concrete secguide vpocket I1 in position. f

A'The void forming core unit of the joint form .tion of '-'theroadforthe purpose of holding theV margins thereof projecting downwardlybetween` 60 Y .ing mechanism comprises a pair of metal plates Y I 2|..which are spacedapart and have the lower V` thelflat surfaces of theupright anchor shoe Yflangesi Band the staggered spring-like retaining`tongues or lugs 5 as clearly illustrated in JfFigure 1 to holdV thelower margins ofthe core wplates properly spaced apart. The outervertical edges of Ythe core plates .2l are in contact with the innerfaceof the mainY or primary closure platel. The:outer sidesof the uppermargins of the two core plates 2| are cut out to provide seatsorshoulders Y22; The seats or shoulders 22 Y provided near the uppermargins of Ythe coreY @plates 2 I afford-temporary. seats-for a pair ofoppositely positioned bridge members and cap supports each comprising abase flange 23 having cups or sockets 24 struck downwardly therefrom toform recesses for the reception of concrete to hold the base flange 23securely embedded in a concrete road section I. Integrally formed withthe base flange 23 is a bridge flange 25, the upper margin of which isprovided with a plurality of spaced notches 26 leaving a plurality ofspaced aps or tongues 21.

For the purpose of holding the bridge members temporarily in position onopposite sides of the upper portion of the core unit, a removablechannel shaped form or closure cap 28 is engaged over the spring-likeupright bridge flanges 25 with the side flanges of the removable capprojecting downwardly to seat upon the horizontal base flanges 23 of thebridgeV forming member. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1 the sideiianges of the cap 28 hold the bridge forming flanges 25 clamped againstthe outer surfaces of the upper portion of the core plates 2|. Welded orotherwise secured within the closure cap 28 at spaced intervals are aplurality of springlike spacing boxes or tubes 29. The spring-likespacing boxes or members 29 project downwardly between the upper marginsof the core plates 2i to hold the upper margins properly spaced apart.

With a load transmission base unit supported on the road subgrade, andwith the core plates 2| removably seated thereon to support the bridgeforming angle members in position on yopposite sides of the upperportion of the core plates by means of the removable closure cap 28,concrete is poured to form the upper section of the road on oppositesides of the road expansion joint forming mechanism. After the pouringof the concrete as illustrated in Figure 1, the concrete is allowed toset a desired amount. The closure cap 28 together with the spacing boxesor member 29 forming a part thereof are rst removed from engagement withthe upper margins of the core plates 2| thereby permitting access to behad to the core plates. The core plates are next moved inwardly towardone another and are lifted upwardly out of the core space formed betweenthe concrete road sections l leaving the air expansion chamber or void30 above the base unit. With the removal of the core closure cap and thecore forming plates, the bridge anges 23 remain embedded in the concreteand the flanges 25 are left projecting into the upper portion of thevoid 30. The end closure plates I0 and I8 at the end of the core unitare also left in position to close the outer end of the expansion void3U.

For the purpose of closing the upper portion of the expansion void 30,the bridge anges 25 of the bridge members are bent inwardly toward oneanother to span the void 30, and the upper notched margins of theflanges 25 intersect one another as illustrated in Figure 5 after whichthe tongues or aps 27 of one ange are bent downwardly over an adjacentflange as illustrated in Figure 6 to interlock the bridge flanges 25 andform an arched bridge closure for the upper portion of the expansionvoid 30. The space above the bridge is now partially lled by means of afilling of plastic material such as asphalt or the like to form acompressible and expansible filler block 3|.

Figure 10 illustrates a modified form of an expansion Void bridge unitconsisting of a pair of angle members comprising base anges 32 andbridge flanges 33. Integrally formed on the upper margin of one of thebridge iianges 33 is la bridge strip 34 which has retaining lugs 35struck outwardly therefrom to be projected through slots or apertures 36provided at spaced intervals in a bridge strip 31 integrally formed onthe upper margin of the second bridge flange 33.

The base flanges 32 of the bridge angle members are adapted to beembedded in concrete of opposite or adjacent sections of a road sectionwhile the bridge members 33 are left to project into the void betweenthe sections. When the bridge fenders 33 are deiiected inwardly, thebridge strips 34 and 31 are moved into abutting engagement with respectto one another so that the lugs 34 project through the slots 36 and arebent over to hold the bridge strips clamped together to form a closedarched bridge unit for the support of a plastic ller to close the upperportion of a road expansion joint.

This improved invention embodies an air expansion joint formingmechanism for roads including a load transmission base unit having aremovable core unit supported thereon with the outer end of the coreunit closed by means of an adjustable closure means supported on thebase unit, and retainable in position after the removal of the core unitfor the purpose of closing the outer end of the expansion void. Thejoint forming mechanism furthermore includes improved bridge unitsconstructed of bridge members which are partly embedded in the conicrete sections of the road, and have bridge forming portions whichproject into the expansion void and are interlocked with one another toprovide an arched support for a plastic filler used to close the upperportion of the expansion joint.

It will, of course, be understood that many details of construction maybe varied through a wide range without departing from the principles ofthis invention, and it is therefore not the purpose to limit the patentgranted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A concrete construction joint former for embedding in concrete andincluding in combination a base section, an anchoring unit shiftablymounted therein, a core unit having open ends and removably supported onsaid anchoring unit and removable from the concrete to leave anexpansion void above the base section, means carried by the anchoringunit for closing one end of the core unit and the expansion voidresulting from the removal of the core unit, and bridge membersreleasably carried by the core unit and retainable in position partiallyembedded in concrete when the core unit is removed after the pouring ofconcrete, said bridge members adapted to be deected into interlockingengagement with one another to form an arched bridge for supporting aller of plastic material to close the upper portion of the expansionjoint void resulting from the removal of the core unit.

2. A concrete construction joint former for embedding in concrete andincluding in combination a base section, an anchoring unit shiftablymounted therein, a core unit having open ends and removably supported onsaid anchoring unit, means carried by the anchoring unit for closing oneend of the core unit, and bridge members releasably carried by the coreunit and ll l reiinable in posiioaperiialyiembaddediawnf cretewhenithecoreunit is removedrromzaf'conf-V.v

crete construction. to leave" Van expansion'v space f therein,saidbiidge members adapted to halveA freeportions ,thereof deflectedinWardlyto bridge4v the expansiongspace, said .bridge membersQincludingYinterfitting means for interlocking the bridgeA members with one anotherto?. form aV bridge'to serve asV a support for a plasticV iillerfor.closing lthe upper :portion ,of j the expansion spa'cejA i' Y' 3.`f'Aconcrete Y. construction..l jointY mechanism for embedding in.concr`ete,i j prising a load transmission basefacc-re unit removably supported.therebyl andy removable from. .the .concrete `con s tructirnfito:proridexan Vexpa'nsio'nlvoid therein, and filler supporting the o coreunit members ,temporarily carried N l o n d .in thereonar'd remaining.partially embe crete,to-besupported.thereby when the core unit is;removedgsaid i'lller supporting members including deflectabie,por-tions, projectible vinto the void toward one another-.to span thesame, said portions of vthe llersupporting members formed tointerlockone anotherto permit afplastic `filler to beengagedonsaidportions in the upper portionof the expansionjjoint to close the-same.u

'4. A concrete construction jointV forming mechanism for embeddinginconcr'ete and com -Y prisng a load transmissionbase,Y aocoreunitrem'ovably supported. thereby land removable Airom the concreteconstruction to leave void jthere-Y in, illler supporting memberstemporarily car- Vried by the core unit and retainableV inV positionpartially embed-dediti the concrete and supported thereby when the coreunit -is removed and means forming apart of the filler support- Y ingmembers Yand..1cirojecting intof the void intoengagement with oneanother '-forinterlocking the members-with one another to span theexpansion void and form aV support fora `plastici-111er forclosing theupper portion joint.

5. VA road jointl former comprising. .incombina-A tiona core .unit forremovable engagement in concretegflllen supporting members including de-VectableY parts temporarily engaged yWith ,thecore snit, Ysaid membersadapted to remain in position in the concrete and be supported therebywhen thehcore unit is removed therefrom, and

, means on said deflectable parts for interlocking Y the same' one toanother when the `deilectable 'Y YFS fand supported thereby when thecorerrunit is reparts are Ybent inwardly to span the void resulting fromthe removalrof the core unit from the concrete. Y

6, A concreteconstruction joint former comprising a load transmissionbase unit, a core unit thereon for embedding in vconcrete and removableto leave a void in the concrete, ller.

supporting members releasablycarried by the coreunit and partiallyembedded in the concrete moved leaving `portions of said membersprojectingino the voidjto be deflected into contactwitn each other, andtonguesY integrally formed onV the iller Ysupporting members forinterlocking the iiller supporting members onewith the other to form aller supporting bridge spanning theV joint void resulting fromY theremoval of vthe core unit.V Y

. 'L1A concrete .angle members includingvfbase.. flangesrhaving VofY theexpansion construction former com-V prising a load transmission baseunit, a core unit removablyV supported thereonto be v,ernbedded in"concrete Yand'mremovable from Ythe concretey toleave LVoid therein, andifiller. supporting mem'- f bers releasablycarried bythe core .unit andpartially iembeddegl;in theconc'rete' to, be. supported therebywhen. thecore unit isilremovedvi said filler Supporting `membersdeilectableqtoward one an-, otherintoithe void andhaving rstaggeredtonguelike means ygfor interlocking the fillerV supporting. membersronen/ith another to form a iiller supporting bridgetoclose theupperportionof the. joint void resulting from removal of vthe core.

8 IA ,concrete road joint; `former comprising ,in

Vcombinationfa core :unit for embedding inV concrete fand removable fromthe concrete toleav'e.

a @void therein, and vfiller supporting'members Y cafrriedbyr thecoreVunitandvprojecting into and retainable byfthe Vconcrete v*andrhayingportions projecting v into dtlieivo saidv portionsvdeectable'towardone anotheninto thevoid and hav-V with4 the tonguesojfoneiiller supporting member staggered Withrespectto those .of vanadjacent ing spaced/,tongues integrally. formed. thereonQp.

member to Apermit thelfiller supporting members toflbe*` 'interlockedlwith'fone anotherr with the tongues of one member bentdownwardly over anadjacent membet Y 9; road joint ller bridge unit comprising invcombination a pair oi angleymembers partly embedded in opposite sectionsVof concrete, saidY staggered sockets. thereinandV bridge flangesincluding notched marginal portions adjustable into interiittingrelation with one another when the bridge flanges Varepdeected ltowardone anotherr to span the space between adjacent concrete'gsections toform ajsupport for a `i-lller Vfor closing the upper portion of a roadVjoint.

lQ.jA road ,joint ller bridgel unit comprising in combination a pair ofangle membersincludingsupporting flanges to be embedded in oppo- Ysite-sections of concreta-said angle members also including bridgeilanges having spaced deflectable-tongue meansY forY lockinglyintertting the bridge flanges together tor-formi. a support for aplastic filler for closing the-upper portion of the space betweenoppositesections of concrete.

. 11-. In a road expansion jointVY mechanism: of i iiller.. supportingbridge-unit comprising angleV members Yincluding base flanges anddeectable theclass described including. inf.l combination abridgeflanges, `said bridge ilanges having the Y* longitudinal marginsIthereof--formed to locking-ly intert one another-Whenthe bridge flangesarejbentstoward one anothertoV form an *archedv filler support. Y f

A vroad joint .iller bridgevunit for use a concrete *.road.. andvcomprising.. in combination a membersjeach consistingof baselflangerhaving 70 y f Y socket meansformed therein' anda bridge. iiange Y havingtongue members Y for interlocking the angle members one to the other.` Y

` VROBEIFJJ?'R;ROBERTSOIsLl

